Parking Device for Bicycle

ABSTRACT

A parking device for a bicycle includes a main control unit ( 11 ), a parking unit ( 12 ) mounted on the main control unit, and a locking member ( 13 ) movably mounted in the main control unit and extending into the parking unit. Thus, the parking device can lock the bicycle ( 20 ) so as to provide a burglarproof effect. In addition, the bicycle is locked by the parking device so that the user needs not to carry a lock to prevent from causing a burden to the user. Further, the parking device locks the bicycle easily and quickly to facilitate the user locking and unlocking the bicycle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a park and, more particularly, to a parking device for a bicycle and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

A bicycle does not have a locking function so that a lock, such as a padlock, cable lock and the like, is mounted on the bicycle additionally to lock the bicycle so as to provide a burglarproof effect. However, the user needs to carry a key to lock and unlock the lock, thereby causing a burden to the user. In addition, the lock is suspended on the bicycle, thereby decreasing the aesthetic quality of the bicycle. Further, the lock cannot lock and unlock the bicycle easily and quickly, thereby causing inconvenience to the user when using the bicycle.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a parking device for a bicycle comprising a main control unit, a parking unit mounted on the main control unit, and a locking member movably mounted in the main control unit and extending into the parking unit.

According to the primary objective of the present invention, the parking device can lock the bicycle so as to provide a burglarproof effect.

According to another objective of the present invention, the bicycle is locked by the parking device so that the user needs not to carry a lock to prevent from causing a burden to the user.

According to a further objective of the present invention, the parking device locks the bicycle easily and quickly to facilitate the user locking and unlocking the bicycle.

According to a further objective of the present invention, the parking device can lock the bicycle without needing a key to facilitate the user using the bicycle.

Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a parking device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the parking device as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic operational view of the parking device for a bicycle as shown in FIG. 1 in use.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the parking device for a bicycle as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the parking device for a bicycle as shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a parking device 10 for a bicycle in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a main control unit 11, a parking unit 12 mounted on the main control unit 11, and a locking member 13 movably mounted in the main control unit 11 and extending into the parking unit 12.

The main control unit 11 has an upper end provided with a contact panel 111. The contact panel 111 of the main control unit 11 has a surface provided with a plurality of number buttons 112 and has a side provided with at least one light emitting member 113 aligned with and located beside the number buttons 112. The main control unit 11 has a lower end provided with a support board 114 to support the parking unit 12. The main control unit 11 is further provided with a chip device, a magnetic card sensing zone and a coin insert port so that a user has to pay a parking toll when using the parking device 10.

The parking unit 12 is located beside the lower end of the main control unit 11 and is secured on the support board 114 of the main control unit 11. The parking unit 12 includes two upright stop baffles 121 spaced from each other to define a parking space 122 between the stop baffles 121, and two support rods 123 mounted between the stop baffles 121. One of the stop baffles 121 of the parking unit 12 abuts the main control unit 11. Each of the stop baffles 121 of the parking unit 12 is provided with a through hole 124 to allow passage of the locking member 13. The through hole 124 of each of the stop baffles 121 is connected to the parking space 122. Each of the support rods 123 of the parking unit 12 is perpendicular to the stop baffles 121. Each of the support rods 123 of the parking unit 12 is located below the locking member 13 and is located above the support board 114 of the main control unit 11. Preferably, each of the support rods 123 of the parking unit 12 is rotatably mounted between the stop baffles 121.

The locking member 13 in turn extends through the through hole 124 of one of the stop baffles 121 and the parking space 122 and is inserted into the through hole 124 of the other one of the stop baffles 121 to close the parking space 122. Preferably, the locking member 13 is a hydraulic cylinder.

The parking device 10 further comprises a sensing switch 14 mounted on one of the stop baffles 121 of the parking unit 12 to stop movement of the locking member 13 when the sensing switch 14 detects that the locking member 13 is hindered by an object. The sensing switch 14 is located above the through hole 124 of one of the stop baffles 121 and abuts the main control unit 11.

In operation, referring to FIGS. 3-5 with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the front wheel 21 of a bicycle 20 is placed in the parking space 122 and supported by the support rods 123 of the parking unit 12. Then, the user can press the number buttons 112 of the contact panel 111 to preset a code. Then, the locking member 13 is operated by the main control unit 11 after the code is set, so that the locking member 13 in turn extends through the through hole 124 of one of the stop baffles 121 and a gap between any two spokes 22 of the bicycle 20 and is inserted into the through hole 124 of the other one of the stop baffles 121 so as to lock the front wheel 21 of the bicycle 20.

At the same time, when the sensing switch 14 detects that one of the spokes 22 of the bicycle 20 is in front of the locking member 13, the sensing switch 14 sends a signal to the main control unit 11 to stop movement of the locking member 13 so as to prevent the spokes 22 of the bicycle 20 from being hit by the locking member 13. Thus, the user can slightly rotate the front wheel 21 of the bicycle 20 to separate the locking member 13 from the spokes 22 of the bicycle 20, so that the locking member 13 can continue to pass through the gap between any two spokes 22 of the bicycle 20. Alternatively, the support rods 123 of the parking unit 12 are controlled by the main control unit 11 to rotate relative to the bicycle 20 so as to slightly rotate the front wheel 21 of the bicycle 20.

On the other hand, the user can press the number buttons 112 of the contact panel 111 to input the correct code. Then, the locking member 13 is operated by the main control unit 11 to detach from the spokes 22 of the bicycle 20 and is retracted into the main control unit 11 so as to unlock the front wheel 21 of the bicycle 20. At this time, the light emitting member 113 located beside the number buttons 112 provides a lighting effect to the user. In addition, the code can be reset by pressing the number buttons 112 of the contact panel 111.

Accordingly, the parking device 10 can lock the bicycle 20 so as to provide a burglarproof effect. In addition, the bicycle 20 is locked by the parking device 10 so that the user needs not to carry a lock to prevent from causing a burden to the user. Further, the parking device 10 locks the bicycle 20 easily and quickly to facilitate the user locking and unlocking the bicycle 20. Further, the parking device 10 can lock the bicycle 20 without needing a key to facilitate the user using the bicycle 20.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention. 

1. A parking device for a bicycle, comprising: a main control unit (11); a parking unit (12) mounted on the main control unit; a locking member (13) movably mounted in the main control unit and extending into the parking unit.
 2. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 1, wherein the main control unit has an upper end provided with a contact panel (111); the contact panel of the main control unit has a surface provided with a plurality of number buttons (112).
 3. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 2, wherein the contact panel of the main control unit has a side provided with at least one light emitting member (113) aligned with and located beside the number buttons.
 4. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 1, wherein the parking unit includes two upright stop baffles (121) spaced from each other to define a parking space (122) between the stop baffles.
 5. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 4, wherein each of the stop baffles of the parking unit is provided with a through hole (124) to allow passage of the locking member.
 6. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 4, wherein the parking unit further includes two support rods (123) mounted between the stop baffles.
 7. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 5, further comprising: a sensing switch (14) mounted on one of the stop baffles of the parking unit to stop movement of the locking member when the sensing switch detects that the locking member is hindered by an object.
 8. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 6, wherein each of the support rods of the parking unit is rotatably mounted between the stop baffles.
 9. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 1, wherein the locking member is a hydraulic cylinder.
 10. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 6, wherein the main control unit has a lower end provided with a support board to support the parking unit.
 11. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 10, wherein the parking unit is located beside the lower end of the main control unit.
 12. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 10, wherein the parking unit is secured on the support board of the main control unit.
 13. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 4, wherein one of the stop baffles of the parking unit abuts the main control unit.
 14. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 5, wherein the through hole of each of the stop baffles is connected to the parking space.
 15. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 6, wherein each of the support rods of the parking unit is perpendicular to the stop baffles.
 16. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 6, wherein each of the support rods of the parking unit is located below the locking member.
 17. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 10, wherein each of the support rods of the parking unit is located above the support board of the main control unit.
 18. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 5, wherein the locking member in turn extends through the through hole of one of the stop baffles and the parking space and is inserted into the through hole of the other one of the stop baffles to close the parking space.
 19. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 7, wherein the sensing switch is located above the through hole of one of the stop baffles and abuts the main control unit.
 20. The parking device for a bicycle of claim 1, wherein the main control unit 11 is further provided with a chip device, a magnetic card sensing zone and a coin insert port. 